On Thursday 26 March the European Parliament held its first "dematerialised" plenary session (see EUROPE 12454/2), at which MEPs were asked to vote on the possibility for airlines to temporarily derogate from the so-called "80/20" rule on airport slots (see EUROPE 12445/3).
The 687 MEPs who took part in the vote initially voted - mostly unanimously and by distance - in favour of using the urgency procedure.
The latter allowed the Assembly to take up the matter directly during a plenary session and to vote on proposed amendments put forward by the political groups.
In view of the urgency of the situation, all considered it preferable to present amendments identical to those adopted last week by the Member States' ambassadors to the EU (Coreper), which provide in particular that the derogation from the "80/20" rule may apply from 23 January until 24 October 2020 (see EUROPE 12451/18).
Dominique Riquet (Renew Europe, France), speaking on behalf of his political group and as a member of the Transport Committee (TRAN), called on the assembly to "kindly support as a matter of urgency the Commission's proposal (see EUROPE 12446/4) as amended and modified by the Council".
A wish that should, without difficulty, be granted. Although the outcome of the votes on the amendments and the final text is not yet known at the time of going to press, it would indeed appear that all the groups are behind the Council's position.
"The aviation industry is in an unprecedented crisis and needs prompt and effective measures", said Marian Marinescu (EPP, Romania) in a statement, whose group was openly in favour of extending the period of application of a temporary derogation until 24 October 2020.
"This is the reassuring signal we want to send to air carriers", Marinescu said.
The S&D also pledged, through Spanish MEP Iratxe García Pérez, to "adapt the rules for the use of slots in EU airports" to avoid "the so-called ‘ghost-flights’, unnecessary pollution and extra costs accrued by a severely hit sector".
On the Council's side, a written procedure aimed at definitively adopting the institution's position will be launched tomorrow, Friday 27 March, at 11 a.m. and will end on Monday 30 March at 10 a.m.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which was also consulted on this dossier, has indicated its support for the Commission's proposal. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)